Gift Guide: 10 Sweet Treats for Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is one of the many holidays when calories shouldn’t and don’t count. At least that’s what I tell myself. Instead of doing your usual hearts-and-roses routine, change it up this year. We’ve got a list of 10 awesome desserts to get your valentine.

1. For a Valentine’s Day In: Experimental Table’s “Date in a Box”

Eating out on the most-crowded-restaurant-day of the year can be so mind-boggling. Experimental Table has come up with a solution. “Date in a Box” allows you to have a stress-free, romantic dinner at home with your loved one. Don’t worry about making a mess in the kitchen. The menu will consist of Scardello‘s assorted cheeses, luscious Maine lobster bisque, Local Yocal’s angus chateaubriand, golden Yukon potato puree, pure land organic baby carrots, malted chocolate mousse cake, treats from Killer Pecans, and morning-after muffins. Call 214-752-6851 or e-mail: info@experimentaltable.com to order a “Date in a Box,” which you can pick up between February 13 and 15. Priced at $149.

2. For the Best Nuts for the Buck: Killer Pecan’s gift boxes

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for splurging on some sweet treats. Killer Pecans, handcrafted in Texas using the finest mammoth pecan halves, is offering three special gift boxes. The Totally Chocolate gift box, for the ultimate chocolate lover, includes four Killer Pecan Brownies and one 10-ounce tin of chocolate-dipped Killer Pecans for $29.99. The Sweet & Spicy gift box contains one 8-ounce tin of Killer Pecans and four Killer Pecan Brownies for $27.99. Last, but certainly not least, is the Total Romantic package, which contains four Killer Pecan Brownies, one 10-ounce tin of chocolate-dipped Killer Pecans, and two oversized chocolate-dipped Killer Pecan shortbread cookie hearts for $36.00. Purchase these at www.killerpecans.com.

via Hospitality Sweet

3. For a Single Ladies’ Party: The Hospitality Sweet

Calling all the ladies: The Hospitality Sweet is offering the sweetest desserts for Valentine’s Day, perfect for any party or a gathering with the girls. Fun desserts such as cake pops with hearts, cake in a jar, decorated sugar cookies, and mini cupcakes with hearts will be offered. Orders must be placed by Monday, February 10. Email orders@thehospitalitysweet.com or call 214-999-6704.

Ladies, Valentine’s Day isn’t always about chocolate, but when it is, it should definitely be paired with beer. Men can be difficult to shop for (no offense), so Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. and Dude, Sweet Chocolate decided to partner and create the ultimate beer and chocolate pairings. Get the chocolate at Dude, Sweet’s shop and the beer at most grocery/beverage stores in Dallas.

1st Pairing: Ugly Pug beer with Laphroaig Truffle

2nd Pairing: Iron Thistle beer with Flower Child Truffle

3rd Pairing: Snowmageddon beer with Hanoi Fudge

4. For Some Sweet Tooth Satisfaction: Bread Winners

Satisfy your sweet tooth with iced sugar cookies, cupcakes, cake balls, cakes, and tortes this Valentine’s Day at Bread Winners. Special requests/personalization/ordering large quantities require calling 24 hours in advance. These sweets will be available at all four Breadwinners’ locations.

A delicious basket of goodies by Empire Baking Company for Valentine’s Day is the best way to show someone your love. For $30.73, you can get an assortment of heart-shaped shortbread cookies, Linzer cookies filled with jam, a cranberry scone, cranberry walnut bread, a fudge-y chocolate brownie gift bag, and a jar of JJ&B’s red raspberry or strawberry jam. The only hitch is that you’ll need to assemble the basket yourself. But here’s the recipe for this bread basket:

Rather than your usual box of chocolates, The French-inspired, Tart Bakery will be dishing out delicious desserts for Valentine’s Day, such as champagne truffle box and chocolate covered salted caramels.

Love Pantone’s 2014 Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid? Tart can do custom macaroons, wedding cakes and more in this beautiful new color for spring. Their new cakes are most textured and stunning than ever and are layered with damask, mosaic, scroll work and chenille patterns for Spring.

Don’t want an ordinary cake for your special day? They can create a custom dessert bar just for you, just like the one they created for retired NHL star Mike Modano and his lovely new wife, pro golfer Allison Micheletti, in September.

On a budget this Valentine’s Day or just want to buy something other than a box of chocolates? Tart has new Valentine’s Day treats (see menu in DropBox) that will be hard to not keep for yourself, like the Champagne Truffle Box and Chocolate Covered Salted Caramels.

Who doesn’t love cupcakes? Tart Bakery just added not one, but two new cupcake flavors to their menu: Tres Leches and Mocha.

Tu-Lu’s Linzer cookies (via Facebook)

8. For Gluten-Free Desserts: Tu-Lu’s Bakery

These Valentine’s Day posts are such teasers if you can’t have gluten. Be teased no more: Tu-Lu’s Gluten-Free Bakery won’t let you go hungry this Valentine’s Day. Bite into one of their Raspberry Linzer cookies for just $4.25. Call 214-730-0049 to order.

9. For a Chocolate-y Good Time: Chocolate Secrets

Secrets are no fun, unless you surprise your significant other with something from Chocolate Secrets. The chocolate shop is hosting a fun Valentine’s Day event for couples. Here’s the info, via Facebook:

Skip the bad downtown traffic on V-Day and celebrate on February 15, instead. CocoAndré has a fun chocolate and champagne pairing event on Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m. It’s only $35 per couple. To buy tickets, go here.

Hayley Votolato is a D Magazine intern, and aspiring food and travel editor. She will be graduating from Texas Christian University with a degree in Strategic Communication from the Schieffer College of Communication this May.